Bald Eagle at Terrapin Nature Center.

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Hugh

I haven’t been finding much lately. It’s a kind of mini-doldrum between the end of last season and the beginning of Spring migration. There are scattered migrants here and there, but I’m not seeing many of them.

This post includes trips to Artemesia, CBEC and Terrapin.

Ospreys were fishing as well.

This Snowy Egret moved frequently as he foraged.

I was lucky to get any shot at all of this Green heron who came up behind me.

An early morning Great Blue heron.

Another look at The Great Horned Owlets.

Another Eastern Kingbird.

FOS Gray Catbird.

This Red Breasted Merganser was at Lake Artemesia.

Goslings are hatching already!

I found a lone Wood Duck at Terrapin.

This Red Winged Blackbird was at Artemesia.

Re-working an old Tree Swallow.

I was just in time to catch this Bald Eagle fishing, Notice the band on his right leg.

Bullfrog up close.

An early morning moth.

Common Loon at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Hugh

I talked to Graeme last night, and he reported a Common Loon at Lake Artemesia, so I made the trek this morning to see if I could find it. I’ve always liked Loons. I got lucky right away.

Other migrants are starting to show up as well, including Orioles.

I finally got a good look at the Orchard Oriole.

This Red Breasted Merganser flew in while I was circling the lake.

I haven’t posted a Carolina Wren in a while.

Cedar Waxwings have been missing for a while.

Barn Swallows are making nests in the gazebo.

This Green Heron flew into the bushes near me.

This Starling just had a bath.

This Crow looked good in this evergreen.

Today’s prize; the Common Loon.

Green Heron at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Hugh

It was the first nice day in a week, but it didn’t improve the birding much. Terrapin is still very slow, and CBEC isn’t much better. I guess I’ll have to learn to be more creative with what’s there.

Only a few Canada Geese are still in the area.

This Great Horned Owl chick is thriving.

Eastern Kingbirds are getting common.

A pair of Wood Ducks seem to be nesting in the marsh pond.

A few tree Swallows are always flying over the marsh.

I saw this Green Heron fly across my path, and was lucky to relocate him in the woods.

Canada Geese at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Hugh

It was another gray, dreary and threatening morning, but I don’t have much else to do, so I decided to give it a try.
Terrapin was almost devoid of birds, so I didn’t stay long. CBEC was only slightly better, but a few geese made it somewhat interesting.

This Ruddy Duck is in breeding plumage.

Snowy Egrets are appearing more often.

A pair of Ospreys always seems to breed at CBEC.

Several Canada Geese appeared to be bathing and grooming.

Baltimore Oriole at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Hugh

The weatherman originally called for rain this morning, but we got a cloudy and cool sky instead, so I gave Lake Artemesia a try.

It started out OK, with a couple of Wood Ducks and a few other migrants, but fizzled out after an hour or so. Still, I think migration is in full swing now, and we’re going to have a few good weeks.

My first birds this morning were a pair of Wood Ducks.

I haven’t seen many Downy Wood peckers lately.

I’m seeing Blue Gray Gnatcatchers in most areas now.

These Bufflehead hens seem to be staying in the area very late.

Several Palm Warblers were foraging in the trees.

Many Yellow Rumped Warblers were around as well.

I don’t see many Northern Rough Winged Swallows at Artemesia.

This Field Sparrow was a mild surprise.

Eastern Kingbirds seem to have arrived in most areas.

This is a female Baltimore Oriole.

Snowy Egret at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Hugh

The weather has been sucky and migrating birds scarce. I’ve been getting out most days, but finding interesting birds has been a challenge.

Today was a little better, but it was very cloudy, which makes for lousy light. I ran into a couple of interesting people and spent as much time yakking as taking photos.

A butt shot of the Great Horned Owl returning to the nest.

Another visit to the Great Horned Owlet.

A few Ruddy Ducks are still hanging out at CBEC.

One more look at the Cackling Goose. The Asst. Director tells me this bird was a rescue last year, and is doing well.

This Wood Duck was swimming at Terrapin.

These Canada Geese seem to be nesting at CBEC.

A female Red Winged Blackbird in good light.

I found this Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge.

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers have returned.

It’s nice to see a Tree Swallow on a natural perch.

Several Ospreys are fishing in the marsh ponds.

A lone Snowy Egret was fishing at Terrapin.

This Muskrat was swimming in the marsh at Terrapin.

Black-necked Stilt at Bombay Hook NWR.

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Hugh

I wanted to get to Bombay Hook once more before the weather got too warm, and today looked to be a good chance.

There were plenty of birds to choose from, including many eagles and my first Black-necked Stilt. There were hundreds of Sandpipers as well.

Many photographers were there as well, and they seemed to be very interested in the eagles.

I wanted to get to Bombay Hook once more before the weather got too warm, and today looked to be a good chance.

There were plenty of birds to choose from, including many eagles and my first Black-necked Stilt. There were hundreds of Sandpipers as well.

Many photographers were there as well, and they seemed to be very interested in the eagles.

Sunrise at Bombay Hook.

Many Turkey Vultures were feeding alongside the road.

Hundreds of small Sandpipers were foraging in the marsh.

I only found one Snowy Egret.

This Belted Kingfisher was very cooperative.

Green Winged Teal seem to like foraging in the mud.

This Eastern Kingbird was a nice surprise.

Many Great Blue herons were feeding in the marsh.

I saw only a few Black Ducks.

I often find Killdeer in the road.

10 or more Bald Eagles were fishing in the marsh.

Great Egrets were well represented.

There is a Black Crowned Night Heron rookery in Bear Swamp Pool.

I’ve been looking for a Black-necked Stilt for quite a while.

Castor Canadensis at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Hugh

I usually make a bird the star in the title, but I found a nice Beaver this morning, who posed almost completely out of the water. Unusual, in my experience.

A few migrants are starting to show up, but I can’t say much good about the poses.

Lake Artemesia.

Barn Swallows are gathering mud for their nests.

This Orchard Oriole was in the same grove of trees as last year.

This Eastern Kingbird was a nice surprise.

Red Winged Blackbirds can look good in the right light.

I liked the pose of this Mallard.

This beaver let me get quite close.

Eastern Towhee at Wooton’s Landing.

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Hugh

It’s been slow for a few days. The migrants are here, but they seem to bypass me most of the time.

This was my second trip to Wooton’s recently, and there’s just not much there yet.

I went to Possum Point this morning and found a few Ospreys, but it was too cloudy to expect much.

I made a brief trip to Truxtun Park this afternoon, and it was slow also.

The Possum Point Ospreys are very active.

Swamp Sparrows seem to be well established now.

This Mourning Dove seemed to be gathering nesting material.

Cardinals can be heard everywhere, from dawn to dusk.

I don’t often post House Sparrows.

This Blue Jay posed for me at Truxtun Park.

I found this female Eastern Towhee at Wooton, and followed her for a while to get a shot.

Red Fox at Sandy Point.

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Hugh

I know migration is starting, but it doesn’t seem to be starting for me. Not much to see anywhere this morning, even at Sandy Point. I was lucky to find the Fox.

Terrapin was particularly barren, and CBEC had fewer birds than usual.